House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 16 Sept 2003 (pt 28)

16 Sept 2003 : Column 727W—continued

Remicade

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the availability of Remicade to NHS patients in Northern Ireland. [129810]

Angela Smith: The medicine Remicade has been prescribed in Northern Ireland since November 1999 for a number of health service patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who have failed to respond to existing drug therapies. The use of Remicade for the treatment of an individual patient is a matter for clinical judgment and is the individual responsibility of the prescriber. The decision is taken by a hospital consultant in collaboration with the patient, having discussed with him or her, the risks and benefits of treatment.

An extra £3.1 million for the provision of specialist drugs, including those for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, was allocated to Health and Social Services Boards in the last financial year. This has now been uplifted for inflation and has been provided on a recurrent basis, All four Health and Social Services Boards have made a commitment to ensure an equitable approach to the management and reduction of waiting lists for expensive specialist medicines for arthritis and other conditions as one of the Priorities for Action 2003–04.

Road Resurfacing (Killeen, Newry)

Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what the final cost was of the recent work to resurface the section of the Newry/Dundalk Road at Killeen, Newry; [116960]

(3) what the lowest tendered price was for the recent resurfacing of the section of the main Newry/Dundalk Road at Killeen, Newry. [116962]

Angela Smith: The Chief Executive of the Roads Service has written to the hon. Gentleman. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

16 Sept 2003 : Column 728W

School Exclusions

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children were excluded from school in 2001–02. [123791]

Jane Kennedy: During the 2001–02 school year, 61 pupils were expelled and 5,096 pupils were suspended.

Sexual Offences

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to make male against male rape an offence in Northern Ireland. [115046]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Article 18 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 makes it possible for rape victims to be men and boys.

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will abolish the penalty for consensual heterosexual anal intercourse in Northern Ireland. [115045]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Article 19 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 provides that anal intercourse is not an offence if it takes place in private and both parties are 17 years or over.

Sports Funding

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what circumstances (a) Exchequer and (b) Lottery funding may be granted to prepare competitors in (i) hockey, (ii) athletics, (iii) cycling, (iv) swimming and (v) equestrianism to compete for Ireland against British teams or individuals at Olympic Games or World Championships. [109541]

Angela Smith: No Exchequer funding is allocated to help prepare competitors for specific international events. Exchequer funding is solely designed to provide for a range of general sports development needs.

The only Lottery funding designed to assist Northern Ireland's leading sportspeople to prepare for competition at international level is through the Sports Council's Talented Athlete' programmes.

All athletes granted Talented Athlete Lottery funding for Hockey, Swimming and Equestrianism, if selected for major international competition, would compete for Ireland. This is because the local provincial clubs are affiliated to All-Ireland Governing Bodies. However, those in receipt of Talented Athlete Funding, who compete in Athletics orCycling, given the make-up of their governing bodies may compete for either Ireland or Great Britain if selected for international competition.

Telecommunications Masts

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation has taken place on new legislation in respect of telecommunication masts. [120155]

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Angela Smith: Following the publication of the Stewart Report, the Department of the Environment issued a consultation paper in November 2000 on the subject of planning control for telecommunications development. The consultation paper proposed various options for changing the existing telecommunications planning regime, and put forward a draft Planning Policy Statement for consideration.

As a result of that consultation process, the then Minister of the Environment brought forward legislation which introduced a requirement for full planning permission for all new telecommunications development, including alterations and extensions. This process also led to the Department's new Planning Policy Statement 10: Telecommunications, which was published in April 2002, and takes full account of the precautionary approach advocated in the Stewart Report.

Traffic Cones

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what the cost of placing and retrieving traffic

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cones on Northern Ireland roads and motorways was in each of the last three years; [110578]

(3) how many people have been (a) injured and (b) killed, placing and retrieving traffic cones on Northern Ireland roads and motorways in each of the last three years. [110577]

Angela Smith: The Chief Executive of the Roads Service has written to the hon. Gentleman. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

Health Service (Taxi Costs)

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid to private hire taxi companies by each trust board in each of the last four financial years; and what the criteria are for the use of private hire taxis by trust boards. [122376]

Angela Smith: The information required for the years 1999–2000 to 2002–03 is as follows:

£

Trust 1999–2000 2000–2001 2001–02 2002–03

Altnagelvin 7,809 9,877 13,137 23,804

Armagh and Dungannon n/a n/a ⁽¹⁷⁾100,000 ⁽¹⁷⁾104,000

Belfast City Hospital 155,674 92,632 146,800 146,800

Causeway 29,506 42,356 ⁽¹⁷⁾124,342 ⁽¹⁷⁾124,342

Craigavon and Banbridge Community 94,267 124,599 116,000 118,000

Craigavon Area Hospitals 132.80 172.20 4,846 5,008

Down Lisburn 253,618.07 313,841.07 314,049.49 370,826.97

Foyle 141,887 150,200 146,800 146,800

Green Park 3,657.58 7,153.45 5,675.15 7,474.95

Homefirst 222,596 240,996 ⁽¹⁷⁾265,000 ⁽¹⁷⁾265,000

Mater Hospital 7,079.88 10,404.72 9,992.25 16,027.61

Newry and Mourne 111,609 116,091 107,921.75 134,990.72

Ambulance Service 0.00 0.00 0.00 ⁽¹⁸⁾4,282

North and West Belfast 140,814 166,030 ⁽¹⁷⁾176,794 ⁽¹⁷⁾233,460

Royal Group of Hospitals 14,366.86 21,681.57 228 1,086

South and East Belfast 150,358 181,820 186,216 201,368

Sperrin Lakeland 91,962 156,619 211,923 217,824

Ulster Community and Hospitals 44,005 55,020 55,738 74,599

United Hospitals 64,396 73,129 84,241 94,986

Trust	1999–2000	2000–2001	2001–02	2002–03
Altnagelvin	7,809	9,877	13,137	23,804
Armagh and Dungannon	n/a	n/a	⁽¹⁷⁾100,000	⁽¹⁷⁾104,000
Belfast City Hospital	155,674	92,632	146,800	146,800
Causeway	29,506	42,356	⁽¹⁷⁾124,342	⁽¹⁷⁾124,342
Craigavon and Banbridge Community	94,267	124,599	116,000	118,000
Craigavon Area Hospitals	132.80	172.20	4,846	5,008
Down Lisburn	253,618.07	313,841.07	314,049.49	370,826.97
Foyle	141,887	150,200	146,800	146,800
Green Park	3,657.58	7,153.45	5,675.15	7,474.95
Homefirst	222,596	240,996	⁽¹⁷⁾265,000	⁽¹⁷⁾265,000
Mater Hospital	7,079.88	10,404.72	9,992.25	16,027.61
Newry and Mourne	111,609	116,091	107,921.75	134,990.72
Ambulance Service	0.00	0.00	0.00	⁽¹⁸⁾4,282
North and West Belfast	140,814	166,030	⁽¹⁷⁾176,794	⁽¹⁷⁾233,460
Royal Group of Hospitals	14,366.86	21,681.57	228	1,086
South and East Belfast	150,358	181,820	186,216	201,368
Sperrin Lakeland	91,962	156,619	211,923	217,824
Ulster Community and Hospitals	44,005	55,020	55,738	74,599
United Hospitals	64,396	73,129	84,241	94,986

n/a = Not available

⁽¹⁷⁾ Estimated

⁽¹⁸⁾ Renal dialysis patients

A Regional Transport Manual for the HPSS was produced and issued by the Department in June 1998. In relation to the use of taxis it states clearly that their use should be strictly controlled in order to minimise costs. Trusts have to ensure that when taxis are used to support fleet operation for regular or ad hoc work, that there are proper management protocols and monitoring arrangements in place.

Trusts must have mechanisms in place to ensure relevant directors are notified of expenditure on taxis. Also taxi services obtained from commercial taxi companies are subject to a process of tender through Regional Supplies Services.

Unsolved Murders

Mr. David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress with the investigations of unsolved murders of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and army personnel in the County of Londonderry in 1972. [130421]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I understand from the PSNI that a Major Crime Review Group is being established to address the issue of unsolved murders. Inquiries regarding its progress are a matter for the PSNI.

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